Pregnancy

In Great Britain, around 440,000 women each year continue to work during their pregnancy and approximately two-thirds return to work soon after giving birth. Almost half of these women experience some form of disadvantage at work because they are pregnant or take maternity leave.

Pregnancy is not an illness. Therefore, women should not be signed off sick simply because they are pregnant. Instead, they should be offered a change in working conditions or suitable alternative work. Employers have a legal and moral duty to protect women of childbearing age from hazards and risks in the workplace.
In workplaces, some risks can affect the health and safety of new and expectant mothers and that of their child. Working conditions which are usually considered to be acceptable may no longer be suitable during pregnancy and/or for breastfeeding.

Legal background

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires employers to secure the health (including mental health), safety and welfare of employees at work. This includes providing a safe place of work, safe systems of work, and information and training.

Risk assessment

The law places duties on the employers to assess risks posed to new or expectant mothers and, where necessary, to take action to safeguard their health and safety, including health surveillance, if appropriate. This could be achieved by carrying out a comprehensive risk assessment. Employers must:
• identify all the possible hazards
• make sure that exposure to hazards is adequately controlled
• put in place appropriate control measures which are properly maintained
• monitor exposure in the workplace and carry out health surveillance, if required
• provide information, instruction and training to new or expectant mothers.

Getting more help

The organisations listed below offer help and advice.
• Health for Work Adviceline is a free service to help you quickly and effectively address the issue of employee ill health, minimise the impact of staff illness, and provide essential support to staff with physical or mental health issues
• Health and Safety Executive provides access to workplace health and safety information, guidance and expert advice
• The Equality and Human Rights Commission acts as a source of information and advice and tackles discrimination at various levels
• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills provides information about maternity and paternity leave and pay
• GOV.UK provides information on pregnancy and maternity rights
• The Family and Parenting Institute supports families in order to make society more family-friendly and promote wellbeing at work
• The Fatherhood Institute – provides information for working fathers about current legislation, wellbeing and work life balance
• Maternity Action has information sheets for mothers and fathers on their rights at work
• Tommy's promotes the health and wellbeing of working mothers